Kids
& mixed martial arts fighting back against school bullying
Instances of bullying in middle schools and high schools
across the United States are at an all-time-high. Bullying has become a
prevalent problem, with devastating and even fatal effects. In fact, almost 30
percent of youth in the United States over 5.7 million are estimated to be involved in bullying as either
a bully, a target of bullying, or both.
Victims of bullying can suffer from long-term emotional
and behavioral problems, including loneliness, depression, social isolation,
anxiety, and low self-esteem. Some teens may even feel compelled to take
drastic measures, such as carrying weapons for protection or seeking violent
revenge. Others, in desperation, even consider suicide. Researchers have found
that years later, long after the bullying has stopped, adults who were bullied
as teens have higher levels of depression and poorer self-esteem than other
adults.
Mixed martial arts combats bullying, builds self-esteem,
boosts self-defense
The beauty of learning mixed martial arts is that it
trains children physically making them stronger and more capable of
self-defense against bullies; and it also trains them mentally and emotionally
encouraging enhanced self-esteem, self-worth, focus and respect.
MMA is proving to help kids in bullying situations by
developing the following key benefits:
Self-defense While a main focus of MMA is teaching kids to focus their
mental and physical energies in productive and non-violent ways, the knowledge
of how to protect oneself can be crucial. Kids often report feeling more
secure, knowing that should the need arise; they could defend themselves
against a bully.
Confidence
Children become more confident as they accomplish new goals in MMA. As they
develop both mentally and physically, this increased self-esteem can make them
less likely to be targeted by a bully.
Respect MMA
places an emphasis on respect of oneself and others. This
respect, along with courtesy and personal integrity, are tenets of
martial arts that discourage bullying, and encourage children who are being
bullied to respond in appropriate ways.
Focus While bullying can often cause children to
lose focus in school, MMA encourages complete concentration and focus at all
times. This concentration can carry over into all parts of students lives,
often impacting their school work and grades.
For more information about mixed martial arts and its
positive impact on bullying, visit http://www.nolimitsmma.com.
An authority on the mixed martial arts industry, Karen
Vasquez Santaniello is a founder of No Limits in
Irvine.